Food waste valorization through composting and bio-drying for small scale fruit processing agro-industries

Abstract

Agri-food industries entail a relevant economic activity, with major opportunities to improve food security, the economy, and the environmental performance of food systems. However, those opportunities can be challenged by Food Waste (FW), since estimates suggest that 55% of certain groups of food products, such as fruits and vegetables are lost or wasted along the food supply chain. The Latin American and Caribbean region is one of the most relevant in the world supply of fruits, based in a high number of small-scale farmers and agri-processors. Strategies that aid in better management of FW consider the recovery and recycling of still valuable materials from the waste. In consequence, this study focused on comparing technical parameters of four biowaste treatments, to valorize the FW that is originated by small fruit-processing agroindustry in the Latin American country of Costa Rica. The main results indicate that the Takakura-type composting method in tumblers presents appropriate technical conditions to valorize this type of FW, due to the obtention of compost for potential use in agricultural or gardening. The bio-drying alternative will aid in case the treated waste needs to be stored or transported for further uses or disposal since it is a stabilized material, hence less weight, and humidity content, and potentially fewer emissions are expected.
 However, the observed conditions of this study, indicate it is not advisable to use this later directly as a soil amendment since the temperatures reached during the experiment might not assure the inactivation of possibly present pathogens.
 Agri-food industries entail a relevant economic activity, with major opportunities to improve food security, the economy, and the environmental performance of food systems. However, those opportunities can be challenged by Food Waste (FW), since estimates suggest that 55% of certain groups of food products, such as fruits and vegetables are lost or wasted along the food supply chain. The Latin American and Caribbean region is one of the most relevant in the world supply of fruits, based in a high number of small-scale farmers and agri-processors. Strategies that aid in better management of FW consider the recovery and recycling of still valuable materials from the waste. In consequence, this study focused on comparing technical parameters of four biowaste treatments, to valorize the FW that is originated by small fruit-processing agroindustry in the Latin American country of Costa Rica. The main results indicate that the Takakura-type composting method in tumblers presents appropriate technical conditions to valorize this type of FW, due to the obtention of compost for potential use in agricultural or gardening. The bio-drying alternative will aid in case the treated waste needs to be stored or transported for further uses or disposal since it is a stabilized material, hence less weight, and humidity content, and potentially fewer emissions are expected. However, the observed conditions of this study, indicate it is not advisable to use this later directly as a soil amendment since the temperatures reached during the experiment might not assure the inactivation of possibly present pathogens.

Increased quality of small-scale organic compost with the addition of efficient microorganisms

“…The stability of the compost is observed during the maturation or humification phase, when temperatures tend to decrease to room temperature levels. For effective elimination of pathogens and weeds, the thermophilic phase must reach temperatures above 50°C for at least 15 consecutive days, (Brenes-Peralta et al, 2021). In this sense, the maximum temperature range found and process acceleration occurred due to the presence of EMs that intensified the thermophilic phase responsible for this thermal behavior.…”

A Critical Review of Data Science Applications in Resource Recovery and Carbon Capture from Organic Waste

“…Improper organic waste management practices such as landfilling and incineration contribute to global warming through increased greenhouse gas emissions, cause environmental degradation due to runoff and leaching of contaminants, and degrade human health by spreading pathogens. − Economic impacts of improper organic waste management include annual losses of USD 2.2 billion caused by eutrophication of freshwater bodies in the United States of America (USA) and USD 1 billion from food waste and food loss on a global scale. , Although the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations motivate efforts to valorize organic waste through resource recovery and carbon capture (RRCC), limited progress has been made. − For example, the 2021 SDG progress report estimated that globally 82% of municipal solid waste is collected, whereas only 55% is managed in controlled facilities (e.g., landfill site, incineration with energy recovery, composting) . Distinct opportunities for RRCC from such waste exist to help address SDG target 12.5, which involves substantially reducing waste generation by 2030 through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse…”

“… 1 − 3 Economic impacts of improper organic waste management include annual losses of USD 2.2 billion caused by eutrophication of freshwater bodies in the United States of America (USA) and USD 1 billion from food waste and food loss on a global scale. 4 , 5 Although the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations motivate efforts to valorize organic waste through resource recovery and carbon capture (RRCC), limited progress has been made. 6 − 9 For example, the 2021 SDG progress report estimated that globally 82% of municipal solid waste is collected, whereas only 55% is managed in controlled facilities (e.g., landfill site, incineration with energy recovery, composting).…”